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Tawanda Mufundisi could have landed himself in trouble with the Zimbabwe Karate Union for alleging the Union and the Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture are neglecting him following an injury suffered last year.Mufundisi broke his leg during the International Karate Federation Matsushima World Cup in Durban, South Africa. And speaking to The Herald last week, the seasoned karateka said he feels he should be assisted since he was on national duty when he sustained the injury in September.
However, in an open letter, posted on the ZKU official facebook page, there are revelations that the karateka prior to the tournament made his own travelling arrangements after pulling out of the national team despite being selected into the team by the national technical director.
According to the letter, Mufundisi refused to participate under the Zimbabwe Karate Union and chose to represent his style, the International Karate Federation organisers of the tournament would not allow him to compete under his style and had no other option but to participate under Zimbabwe.
The karate mother body yesterday expressed disappointment over Mufundisi’s conduct and there were suggestions that the issue be presented before their legal and disciplinary committee as it is likely to bring the sport into disrepute and also sour their relations with the Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture.
“We must state that prior to the tournament in which you were injured, the ZKU received the most bizarre enquiry. This was after you had requested to participate at the tournament as a member of the International Karate Federation and not as a member of the Zimbabwe Karate Union. This was despite the fact that you had been selected by the TD and cleared by SRC as a representative of Zimbabwe. The ZKU advised the LOC to remove you completely from the Zimbabwe delegation as you had chosen to represent your style over the country.
You then pulled out of the official delegation by making your own travel and subsistence arrangements, separate to those of the team. You were only allowed to compete for Zimbabwe after the tournament organisers refused to recognise your IFK registration.
In that view, I don’t think that the Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture and the ZKU should be portrayed in such a bad light as in the press article.
In fact, we believe this is something our legal and disciplinary committee should look at,” reads part of the letter.
Mufundisi also complained that he has never received any recognition for his efforts in representing the country in various regional and international events and went on to compare himself to boxer, Charles Manyuchi.
“We should stop trivialising Charles Manyuchi’s achievements. The athlete won accolades at the highest level. While you may have represented Zimbabwe for a long time, recognition is reserved for those who would have distinguished themselves in pursuit of sporting excellence for example Charles Manyuchi in 2014 and our very own Sensei Samson Muripo last year and some other years back. Representing Zimbabwe alone will not earn everyone recognition and reward.
“We feel very sorry for your injury and we were very concern when you got injured, in fact I remember that the ZKU Secretary General, Steve Charandura made efforts through the ZKU to raise US$400 for an air ticket for you to fly back home after being discharged from hospital.”
This is not the first time Mufundisi has found himself in controversy. In 2013 he also caused some problems for the team that was going to Bulgaria for the World Kyokushin Union Championships after they got six tickets from Hennie Bosman from South Africa but were meant for the kyokushin style karatekas only.
However, Mufundisi, who was already competing under IFK felt outdone and alleged that he did not get a ticket because he had a misunderstanding with Bosman when he was working for him in between 2007 and 2010.
Online Reporter